Manchester United’s recent clash against Chelsea had plenty of drama — but not all of it was about the football.
Rasmus Hojlund, the Danish striker, found himself at the center of an unusual moment during the game that had fans and commentators talking for reasons beyond his performance on the pitch.
The Unexpected Smartwatch Mishap
Right after the break, with the score still 0-0, something quite unexpected happened.
Hojlund was spotted wearing what looked like a smartwatch on his wrist.
That immediately caught the referee’s eye, and he was quickly told he couldn’t wear it during the match.
The 22-year-old had to stop play briefly to remove the watch and hand it over to a member of the Manchester United staff on the sidelines.
Hojlund was laughing at the situation — a rare light-hearted moment in an otherwise intense game — but the United coaching team didn’t seem quite as amused.
Fans Reacted with Humor and Confusion
The whole incident sparked a flurry of reactions online.
Social media was buzzing with jokes about the striker’s fitness tracker.
Some fans joked that he was just trying to “get his steps in” during the game or aimed fun at his recent goal drought, suggesting he was more focused on hitting daily fitness targets than scoring goals.
One fan quipped about Hojlund’s watch, “Why was he even wearing it on the pitch?” while others found humor in the moment despite United’s struggles.
A Tough Game for Hojlund and United
Unfortunately for Hojlund and Manchester United, the night didn’t improve after the watch drama.
Chelsea took the lead when Marc Cucurella headed in a cross from Reece James in the 71st minute.
Despite their best efforts, United couldn’t find an equalizer and suffered their 18th league loss of the season.
Hojlund, who showed promise earlier this season with some important goals, including a late equalizer against Bournemouth, struggled to make an impact once again. This match marked his 27th Premier League game without scoring, having only found the net four times in 31 appearances this campaign.
Looking Ahead to the Europa League Final
With this frustrating game behind him, Hojlund and Manchester United now shift their focus to the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday night.
After that high-stakes showdown, they will return home to wrap up their Premier League season against Aston Villa next Sunday.
It’s a crucial period for Hojlund, who will be eager to turn things around and prove his worth as United aim to finish the season on a strong note.